Russian forces build dam on outskirts of Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region

Bellingcat reported the information.

The dam is located within Russia's defense line, which bypasses Tokmak. After it was built in early May, the Tokmachka River overflowed to the east of the city and flooded the nearby fields.

Photo: Bellingcat

Tire tracks indicate that the dam may also be used as a crossing point. According to Planet Labs satellite imagery, tracks to the dam site appeared on May 3, and on May 6, the Tokmachka River was blocked.

The water level on the eastern side of the dam continued to rise until June.

Russia has reportedly been making preparations for defense against a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive in the southern region for several months. The multilayered defense consists of several lines of mines, anti-tank ravines, concrete barriers and trenches covering the entire front line at considerable depth. Raising the water level in the Tokmachka River may be part of a larger strategy to delay the advance of Ukrainian forces. In particular, it could be part of a strategy to hold up the eastern outskirts of Tokmak in the event of a Ukrainian breakthrough near the city.

Photo: Bellingcat

The Center for Investigative Reporting stated that this is part of the Russian plan to create water barriers for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. 

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

On June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive on the southern frontline, continuing a series of offensives near Bakhmut and in other directions.

On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced the liberation of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka settlements, near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. On the morning of June 12, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Ukrainian state flag was raised again over Storozhove, Donetsk region.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under occupation since 2014.

On June 26, Hanna Maliar reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced 1 to 2 kilometers on the eastern frontline in the past week. During the offensive in the southern direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated 130 square kilometers. She also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had de-occupied the village of Rivnopil, Donetsk region. 

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace stated that Ukraine has already liberated more territory as part of the summer counteroffensive campaign than Russia had captured during the entire winter offensive.

But Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that the already liberated settlements were not the "main event" but rather the prelude to a major counteroffensive.